Fire and Ice

“Sweet Jesus!” cursed Darby as the girl burst from the bush and dived at the throat of Reverend James. The children scattered as the girl screamed an unholy noise as she launched herself at the priest. Her hair was unkempt and wild as it spread across her face, tearing at her petite features. She looked at the priest with wild, vivid yellow eyes which held a deep black inky depth to the pupils. Saliva spilled from her open mouth as her elongated teeth fell to a row of sharp points as she snapped at his brittle skin. The suddenness of her attack and the sheer furiousity forced Aston James off his feet and tumbling backward, dropping heavily to the floor, pushing the air from his body. He groaned as he hit the floor and his hands locked onto the small body of the feral child as she crawled at his face. He grimaced as she swung her talons at his head and pulled back as the air from her attack brushed his skin.

“Beilal” he could hear desperate screams from behind them as the girl forced her weight against him. His muscles strained as he held her attack at bay, but her additional power held him firmly against the ground. He could feel the sweat form across his brow as his perspiration mixed with the pearls of saliva as they fell from her slavering mouth. She snapped wildly craning her head forward as James groaned under her weight. The sounds of guttural snarls overwhelmed his hearing as he growls grew louder while she shifted her body against his, jerking and pushing as she attempted to gain leverage as the Reverend kept her just out of reach. His words died in his throat as she thrust her slender small body over his torso as she thrashed wildly, snarling and slashing her sharp claws close to his face.

“Help him!” screamed Darby as she struggled to sit on the Pony. She looked at the ring of three children as they stood in shock and watched as the young girl struggled with fury on the man’s body. The oldest boy looked at her and shook his head, unsure what to do. “The stick!” she urged pointing at the floor to a discarded branch that lay on the ground. His eyes locked onto the stick and he dived for the wooden weapon and held it up in his hands and faced the figures writhing on the floor.

He paced behind them and raised the stick above his head, “I can’t” the branch slumped to the floor as his arms fell by his side as his shadow fell over the figure of the girl. Her head flicked round and she snarled at Thoryn as he stood staring at the child in horror.

“Hungry” Beilal snarled through sharp pointed teeth, “I feed”. Thoryn took a step back, gripped with fear as the horror in her eyes raped the flesh of the boy.

“Beilal” whispered Thoryn as he continued to step away from the struggling pair as small dust clouds spewed into the air.

“Beilal gone” snarled the girl as she snapped at the air, “hungry...so hungry...feed me”

“Get her off me” groaned James through gritted teeth as he pushed against the young girl. Beilal looked back at the prone form of the priest and snarled through pointed teeth.

“Hungry!” she roared and thrust forward again. Seeka ran forward and grasped at the branch and swung it wildly against the skull of the child knocking her off the body of the priest. As she tumbled, James released his grip and rolled over the ground, pushing his body between the debris of the wreckage and the wild feral child.

“Behind me” he ordered the children as the creature that had been Beilal circled the copse.

“Give me the food” she snarled at the adult as the children pushed behind him.

“Begone vile beast” shouted Reverend James as he held his hand out before his body, watching the movements of the creature as it stalked the area.

“Hungry” it wailed, “I hungry...”

“How long?” whispered Seeka softly behind the body of James.

“Hungry, feed me” it snarled again.

Aston James leant his head to the side, but his vision never left the feral child, “probably only a few hours, maybe a day at most” he replied to Seeka’s question, “if she’s been injured or hurt then she will have become infected”

“She hurt her hand” whispered Seeka

“What about Tomas!” shouted Thoryn as he hid behind James.

“He tasted good” smirked the creature, “his brain was warm and his blood filled my stomach” she made a low growl which sounded like a rumble of laughter as it bounded over the twisted remains of the ship. “But, I hungry” she grasped her stomach as he words spat from her mouth, she pounced at the group again, snarling as she clawed the air, circling the copse.

“Father!” called Darby as she moved in her seat.

“Don’t move!” yelled James waving his hand in her direction, “I don’t think she’ll attack you”. He continued his vigil as they continued to circle the copse. Beilal cast a sideways glance toward the injured Darby and snarled at her, but averted her gaze back to the group.

“Hunt with me sister” she snarled over her shoulder, “we feast...”

“Should we have left them?” asked Crane as the Ponies forged a path through the trees and glancing over his shoulder. It had been hours since they had left Reverend James and Cadet Darby and as they approached the looming treetop village, he couldn’t quite shake the nagging doubt that was gnawing at his mind.

“”This was your idea captain” remarked Father Brown, “if we are to make the village before nightfall then we needed to to leave when we did” he stated simply.

“I know” agreed Crane, “but with Darby...” his words trailed away as he gazed into the canopy, not wanting to mention the questions on his lips.

“Captain” said Brown firmly, “Father James still has his faith, he still has an ideal in his heart. He has not seen the things I have seen on this world, he will be fine” he followed the captain’s gaze into the trees and added, “I think for now, we should be more concerned for our own safety”. From the canopy a series of thick vines fell to the ground around them, surrounding the two Ponies. Shouts and calls followed the storm of creepers as the bodies of warriors rained from the thick leaved skyline, tumbling to the ground as hands gripped vines as body after body fell from the village above. Crane stepped off his steed and held his hands above his head as he looked around the small clearing at the massing at the foot of the village. He glanced toward his companion and saw Father Brown was copying his actions and moving slowly back away from the advancing crowd. The warriors thrust their spears in their direction, waving the long shafts angrily in their direction. He moved his hands in front of his body, showing his palms to the advancing pack and felt his back press up against the companion.

“You will come with us!” snapped one of the warriors.

“Thought you’d never ask” remarked Crane warily and looked up into the canopy at the falling cage from above. “Here goes nothing” he murmured as he stepped onto the wooden platform and allowed himself to be led at knife point over the threshold of the primitive elevator.

“I’m not your sister” shouted Darby, “I’m nothing like you!”

“But you will be” snarled Beilal as she continued to circle the small group of children, still hiding behind Reverend James. “You feel hunger as do I” she leered through inky black pupils as the hunger grew.

“No!” raged Darby, “I can fight the feeling. I know I can” she looked at James as she spoke. He nodded slightly at her and smiled, careful to keep the children behind him.

“How long” she sneered and lashed out a claw at the group, “Enough of playtime”, hatred flashed through her voice as she turned on the priest and spat at him, “I must feed” she pounced across the gap between them, clawing at the air as the priest dodged her attack, turning to monitor her approach.

“Beilal” he said gently, staring at her, “listen to me, you can fight this. This is not who you are”

“Beilal is gone, I feed now!” she screamed and thrust her body forward again swiping her claws at open air. The children scattered across the copse, screams and cries filling the air. Her eyes locked onto Jai-sen, the youngest and smallest of the party. “I so hungry” she wailed as she flashed a quick glance at James and pounded across the clearing toward the young boy. Jai-sen scrambled desperately through the skeletal twisted metal of the ship and pushed his body down through the rounded metal as Beilal squared up to him.

“Thoryn!” he screamed as Beilal’s claws dug into the carcass of the craft, “Thoryn” The older boy hovered at the edge of the forest and looked at Seeka and shook his head, frozen to the spot with fear. Reverend James pushed his body into the metal frame and flung his arms around the savage girl, grasping her tightly in his strong arms. She struggled in his grip, her limbs thrashing wildly as the priest hauled her out of the debris and into the opening.

“I will feed on your heart old one!” she screamed as she writhed wildly in his arms. Reverend James strained to hold the girl as her added strength pushed against his muscles. “I will drink your blood!”

“May God have mercy on your soul!” yelled James over her calls and snarls.

“Then I will feast on your flesh!”

“and forgive thee of your words!” he continued as she fought wildly against his grip. Thoryn and Seeka could only watch on in horror and fear as Beilal wriggled free from his grip and fell to the floor. He stood before her shocked that she was free and glanced around the clearing desperately for a possible escape route.

“I shall tare your heart from your body!” she screamed as she leapt for the priest, clasping for his throat...

“Am I to believe you captured these?” laughed Lady Theye as she stood over a small thin warrior. He was bent on one knee, his head bowed and his spear trailing across the floor of the throne room. Behind him the two foreigners stood, their hands bound behind their backs and their bodies littered with traces of bruises as their clothing betrayed signs of abuse.

“Yes, my Lady. I claim my prize” he said uncertainly.

“They fought” she said as she rose from her throne and walked around the two prisoners.

“Yes my Lady, we had to protect ourselves” he said, keeping his gaze averted toward the floor.

“That’s a lie” stated Crane staring into the eyes of his captor.

“Did I give command to speak!” raged Lady Theye as she threw the back of her hand at his face, connecting with his cheek and leaving the sprawl of a red blemish over his skin.

“We came here of our own free will” he continued.

“I said enough!” snapped Lady Theye as she stood before Father Brown, her eyes flicking over his body, “You!” she snapped, “I remember you from before” she said eventually, “you did not come here with him” she placed her hands on his body and traced the feel of his muscles as her hands wandered over his habit. She felt the muscles beneath the cloth and squeezed his shoulder, “Fine body” she said softly as her hand fell over his chest and down toward his groin, fingers curling around him and rubbing as she felt a swelling in her palm. “I remember you...” she continued to rub his groin as she spoke, smiling as he closed his eyes at her attention, “I remember your body, I remember the taste of you in my loins” she pressed her body against his and placed her head close to his ear as her hand tightened its grip and thrust quicker, “I remember our cries and ecstasy as I took you again and again” She moved away suddenly leaving Dominica Brown standing with his hands bound behind his back and a rigid bulge at the front of his clothing. His eyes remained closed as he listened to her words, “I shall have you again, and I shall look forward to hearing your moans as I ride you” she said smiling as she stood before Crane. “Your words...however” she said staring into his eyes, “trouble me” she glanced at the warrior on the floor, “I trust my servants, but their ambition sometimes belie their true nature. They all wish to be my mate, but only a select few can have that pleasure. For some it is a chore, some a pleasure...” her eyes flicked at Father Brown as she spoke, then back to Crane, “but I do believe your words have a ring of truth” she walked toward the kneeling warrior and walked around his body looking down at him, “but why would you return, and why bring this one” she waved at Father Brown as she spoke, “and where is the other?”

“Madame” said Crane calmly, “I came here of my own free will. I have seen your world and now understand your complete dominance and I offer my service to you and your people. This one” he nodded at Father Brown, “I bring as a gift for you, while my companion is dead by my hand”

“You seek my favours?” smiled Lady Theye.

“Simply my life” replied Crane

“Same thing” she said, “you! Face me” The warrior raised his head reluctantly and stared up at his queen as she towered over his feeble body. “You seek my favour and yet you lie to your queen”

“Forgive me my Lady” he stammered

“And now you seek my forgiveness” he grasped his hair in her hand and thrust his head in her groin, pushing it deep between her thighs. His arms thrashed as she pushed his head further into her body and smiled at as he struggled in her grasp. She pulled his head away from her body and laughed as he gulped swathes of air drawing oxygen into his lungs, “you shall die with the knowledge you have served me well” she said, “take him away and prepare for the feast” she commanded. Two guards at the rear of the throne room jumped to attention and ran hurriedly across the floor and grasped the panting man in their arms, hauling him over the floor and through the double doors. She watched them leave and looked at Captain Crane in thought. “Release him” she said softly.

The Chamberlain ran over to the captain and cut his bonds. Crane stood rubbing his wrists and walked over to the window where Lady Theye was waiting. “My thanks” he said softly and looked out of the window.

“All you see is mine” she stated simply, “I command everything and hold the lives of the people in my hands”

“That is why I came back” lied Crane, “I wish my life”

“You are as wise as you are beautiful” she smiled and ran her hand over his arm. “You shall join my harem”

Crane looked out over the village and gazed as the sun set behind the canopy, “its magnificent” he mused as he watched as the sun slowly hid behind the trees.

“With the night, we shall celebrate the coming of another day. You shall join us at the feast”

“Yes” Crane said sniffing at the air, “I can smell someone cooking” the aroma of roasting meat drifted on the early evening breeze and touched his senses.

“You shall join us at the feast, the meat is soft and the fruit and vegetables fresh”

“I would like that madame”

“It is settled!” said Lady Theye curtly, “Chamberlain make the arrangements, he shall take his place at my side...and get that other one out of my sight! Prepare him, he shall be my desert”

Reverend James dived to his side and felt the air rush past him as the body of the feral child shot past his body. He hit the ground and felt the air push out of his lungs as his body rolled across the dirt, pushing up plumes of dust from the floor. A scream from behind him curdled his blood and he lay face down, with his eyes closed waiting for the final vicious blow. The young girl continued her scream, but the killing blow never came. Reverend James lay unmoving, not daring to turn as her screams deafened him to the shouts around the copse.

“Old one”

“Father”

“Beilal”

He could hear the shouts, but still remained face down. Was this death? He asked himself as the noise of the creature fell silent. He opened his eyes and tentatively looked up from his prone position. Beilal was still, her body twitching slightly as she hung pinned through a thick shaft of metal protruding through her back. Reverend James stood shakily to his feet and walked around the body of the girl and knelt by her head. The creature looked at him, her eyes changing from black to yellow, then slowly regaining there usual brown hue. “Thank you” she whispered as her head lolled forward, blood seeping from her mouth.

“My child” he whispered as he placed his hand on the back of her head, “may you rest at ease”. His hands gripped the body of the child and gently he pulled her over the pointed metal of the shaft and placed her gently on the ground at his feet.

“Is it safe?” asked Darby as she looked on from her Pony.

Reverend James nodded, “yes” he said softly, closing his eyes and placing his hands together in silent prayer. His lips moved in silent reverence as he stood over the child and held his moment of remembrance for another victim of the planet. He could feel the eyes of the others bearing down on his back as he stood with his head lowered in respect. He opened his eyes and looked over his shoulder as he heard a figure shuffle through the dust.

“Is what I should expect?” asked Joanne Darby as she limped toward him.

“You should rest” he stated harshly looking at her leg.

“I’m fine” she lied through the pain and the pins bit at her leg, “look at her” she cast her gaze at the girl, “she’s more animal than child”

“I believe this is the early stages” he said sadly looking at the body. He bent and touched the thick fur lining the child’s forearm and neck and shook his head. “You can see only patches of the transformation, the fur, teeth, eyes, claws...she still has traces of her own body” he mused as he examined the body, “see her features are still human and her muscles aren’t yet defined”

“But, is this what I should expect” insisted Darby looking over his shoulder.

James nodded slightly and avoided her gaze, instead focusing on the child, “her speech still offered signs of her own will” he continued, “your will is strong Joanne” he said, “and you are not from this planet, you may be able to hold off its influence”

“But for how long?”

“This I do not know” admitted the priest, “you may not change”

“But I hear the voices in my head, urging me to embrace it” she said, a hint of desperation creeping into her voice.

“Whatever happens” said James turning suddenly and grasping her hands in his and meeting her gaze and matching it with his own, “I will stand by your side” he promised. “I will not leave you”

The table stretched out before him as Crane sat at the top of the banquet. He was aware of the eyes staring at him as servants carried trays of meat and fruit from the corridor and laid them down on the wooden surface. The large wooden and slate platters held slices of brown and pink meat, with each plate ringed by a bed of large exotic leaves. Other plates were carried through with a collection of orange, yellow, red and green fruit ranging in different sizes and shapes all sitting proud as the procession of food continued. The weight of the platters strained the banqueting table and the wood groaned under the weight of the feast. The smell wafted across the hall, exciting the senses of the potential diners as they waited eating with their eyes and tasting with their noses as they waited for their host. Captain Crane trailed his vision across the other diners, marking potential threats and expectant rivals to his newly found position. Men stared at him with jealousy in their eyes, while women watched his movements and masked their own lust through their false laughs and sideways glances. The doors at the end of the room opened and the small diminutive form of the Chamberlain entered, slamming his long staff on the floor and waiting until all around the table had rose from their seats.

“May I announce our gracious host and mistress. The divine Lady Theye!” his voice drifted over the table and all bowed as the regal form of the Lady Theye flowed into the hall.

“Please, please” she fawned as the crowd began to clap and cheer her arrival, “Oh, go on then” she smiled as she passed the diners walking slowly toward her seat, drinking in the adulation of her subjects. She lowered her rounded buttocks into her throne and held up her hand as she cast her gaze over the variety of meat. The final trays of meat entered and offered large pieces of flesh, still on the bone and roasted a deep dark colour, with a subtle glaze over the meat. “My lord Chamberlain” she said clapping her hands together, “you have excelled!”. She raised a wooden chalice and waved it toward a hovering servant who rushed to her side and poured a deep crimson liquid into the goblet. She drained the drink and slammed the vessel on the table. The liquid stained her lips and as she smiled, Crane could see the crimson tide across her teeth. “Excellent!” she roared laughing, “begin!” she called.

The diners hands moved across the table in an undignified mass of limbs as fingers clasped meat and fruit, ripping and pulling at carcasses as plates were filled with a variety of food. Lady Theye grasped at a large joint of meat and sank her teeth into the soft meat, holding the end of the joint by the protruding bone. Crane could hear her teeth as they ripped through the delicate pink meat and watched as the glaze stained her mouth. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, “join us” she said as she chewed the food in her mouth, spitting small chunks onto the table as she spoke. Crane cast his eyes over the table and surveyed the variety of fruit and meat on offer to him. He leant over the table and pulled at a large round fruit that resembled a pineapple and place it on his plate. He tugged at the skin and lifted the flesh of the fruit to his nose, drinking the aroma. He flinched as the smell was unpleasant and tentatively placed the fruit against his lips. The taste was bitter and harsh and he felt his muscles gag under the intensity of the fruit. Lady Theye laughed as his face contorted at the taste, “the fruit is bitter” she laughed.

“Yes” agreed Crane as he dropped the engorged yellow fruit and stabbed his hand at several smaller berries.

“Drink” she ordered clicking her fingers, “the wine will wash away the taste from your mouth” Crane took a small drink from the goblet and raised his eyebrows in shock as the sweet nectar in the beaker was pleasant to the taste. “It is good, is it not” Lady Theye laughed, taking another bite from the meat in her hand.

“It is” agreed Crane as he reached for several small slices of meat. He looked about the table at the smiling laughing faces of the diners as they gorged themselves on the food. “Do all eat like this here” he enquired slyly.

“Only the privileged are allowed to dine with us” Lady Theye said as she chewed on her food, “the rest are content”

“What do you mean?” asked Crane.

“They are not starving, they want for nothing”

“Nothing?” Crane cast a glance over the table at the laughing faces as he posed his question.

“My people are happy, they need only what I provide them. Their hearts are happy and their stomachs full”

“What about your prisoners” Crane caught a sideways glance from the Chamberlain as he spoke, “the ones I saw earlier, how are they treated?”

“They too are given a choice to join the people of the trees”

“And if they don’t”

“They do not matter” dismissed Lady Theye, “they are unimportant”

“They are human life” insisted Crane, “all life matters. So I ask you again Madame, what about the prisoners”

Lady Theye laughed, “My dear, what do you think you are eating...or should I say whom?”